Back to the Future

‘You have to know where you came from to know where you are going.’

- Steve Waugh, former Australian cricket captain.

This is a year of 25th anniversaries: of the release of the titular film, of Live Aid, and of the birth of my friend Will Abraham (possibly of less global significance, this last). There are two more significant anniversaries, also, which are directly connected: 20 years of a re-united Germany, and 25 years since Russia’s (and one of Europe’s) greatest leaders was elected: Mikhail Gorbachev, the man whom without it is likely the Cold War would probably still be going on to this day.

Without glasnost and perestroika, where would we be? Russian control over the Eastern side of the Iron Curtain was so complete, pre-1985, that if a protestor sneezed in, say, Warsaw at noon, by 6pm Poland would have triple (or ‘tank’) pneumonia. Such power and influence made uprising against oppression virtually impossible to bring off successfully, as tragic tales of brutally crushed uprisings all around the region showed. Only once change came at the very top, allowing autonomy to the Warsaw Pact countries, could freedom be successfully managed. The subsequent speed of change and relative bloodlessness said it all, for once Gorbi had unlocked the door, the hordes charged through, and blessed him; as did the world, with the Nobel Peace Prize of 1990 a fitting testimony.

Dear Gorbi himself is still trying to work his influence for good in a Russia that has progressed far but still has a little way to go to create full and frank democracy. He is the part owner of Novaya Gazeta newspaper, a publication that has often run tough articles about Vladimir Putin‘s regime and campaigns for fully democratic processes, especially following last year‘s election, which suffered allegations of corruption. Long may the great man, and his followers, keep up the good fight.

But why do I say Back to the Future? Well this time should not be one just of celebration of one of the world’s great statesman, but also of a hope and remembrance of what might be achieved with the other fish that there are currently to fry.

The bloc that, for the sake of its people and the world, most needs addressing now is that in the Middle East ruled by the fundamentalist Islamist powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia. In Iran in particular, an endemically flawed and oppressive pervading form of governance, just like that of the USSR, espouses some extreme values, to the harm of its people and others. Crucially, these faults are both repeated and demanded across the region, amongst smaller nations that are afraid of their large and powerful neighbours: as my friend Edward Alexander eloquently argued, “Under that crazy second-hand-besuited madman Ahmadinejad, Iran has established itself as a spider at the centre of a very sinister web. Look at where it is on the map, and which countries it's next to; is it too far-fetched to believe that it could have been a hand that rocked the cradle in some of the more volatile regions?” It is no coincidence that, in contrast, Muslim-majority Malaysia, well away from this sphere of damaging influence, is renowned for its liberality and has no terrorist links.

All this is not only a tale of suffering for the people under such regimes, but can paint an incorrect and damaging picture of a noble and ancient area, and its true and worthy religious values (contrary to fundamental reports, jihad is specifically forbidden by the Qur’an), that should hold a valued place in the world’s diverse cultural picture.

In this piece, at the start of the year, I hoped that 2010 would be the year the green light shone for Iran’s green revolution. It hasn’t happened yet, but there is still time; and if not this year, perhaps the next or the year after. Let us keep aware, let us keep up support, and let us hope for the next Mikhail.